Casket rack



y M. 5.. MILLER 2,400,312

CASKET RA'cK Filed Sept. 11, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 f I m/en tar may IMzzzer M. E. MILLER CASKET RACK May14, 1946.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1943 Inventor M47]; z. Mz'ZZer' M. E.MILLER v GASKET RACK Filed Sept. 11, 1943 a; N v

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Patented May 14, 1946 26,400,312 i v, t VcAsKET neon: 4 i 7 Mark E. Miller, Shelbyvil le, n1. ApplicationSeptember 11, 1943, Serial ltlo. 502,016 g I I ire cla ms. (01. 214-134)I The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in casketracks for use ;par-' ticularly in the tonneaus of passenger automobiles,and 'has' for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, novel means whereby infant'sf caskets may :be convenientlyplacedin vehicles of this type and removed therefrom without thenecessity of a person entering saidvehicle. V Q I Another very importantobject of the invention is to provide a rack of the aforementionedcharacter which is adapted 'to be adjusted to accommodate caskets ofdifferent lengths.

sun 'anothe'r'very; important object or the: in vention is to provide arack of'the characterdej-' scribed whichwill firmly and securely supportthe casket in transit- Another important object of the invention is toprovide an infants casket rack which, when not in use, may be readilyremoved from the vehicle and folded in a manner to require a minimum ofspace.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an infants casket rackwhich will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable,highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein: t

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of a casket rack constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing said rack in use in thetonneau of a passenger vehicle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rack, showing one of the extensionsin projected position.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section through a corner portion of thedevice with the extension in projected or operative position.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through one side portion of theframe, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure2.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through an intermediate portion ofthe frame, taken substantially on the line 8-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in section through the floor board of theautomobile, showing the means of releasably securing the device thereto.

15. legs 6 are hingedly mounted at I on the'outer Figure 8 is a detailview in elevation of one of the removable end stops.

Referring now to the drawings in, detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the inven-'- tion which'has been illustrated comprises anelongated frame which is designated generally by reference numeral I,said frame being of wood, metal or other suitable material. In theembodiment 'shown, the frame I is principally of wood.

The frame 'I- may be {of anydesired dimensions solong as it can' b'eexpeditiously/mounted in the: tonne'au of a conventional-passengerautomobile, v

The frame-I includes side bars 3,- end bars 4 and crossbraces 5. 'Pairs'of folding supporting cross bars 5. Braces 8 (see Fig. '7) extendbetween the free end portions of the'pairs of legs 6. Braces 9 arehingedly mounted at II) on the intermediate cross bar 5. Plates I3 arefixed on the floor I2 of the automobile 2. The plates I3 are aperturedto threadedly receive bolts II' which are inserted in openings providedtherefor in the members 9 and 8 for firmly securing the rack in openposition and for anchoring same to the floor I2.

The end portions of the side members 3 of the frame I have formed intheir outer sides longitudinal grooves or channels I4. Strips of wood I5on the outer sides of the frame members 3 close the grooves I4 except atthe outer ends thereof. The grooves I4 slidably receive the legs I5 ofsubstantially U-shaped extensions H on the ends of the frame I. The legsI6 of the extensions I'I have formed therein at spaced points notchesI8. Substantially U-shaped latches I9 are pivotally mounted for swingingmovement on the end portions of the frame I and are engageable in thenotches I8 for re- .leasably securing the extensions I I in adjustedposition. Springs 20 yieldingly secure the latches I9 in the notches I8,

Rollers 2| are journaled transversely at longitudinally spaced points inthe frame I and in the outer end portions of theextensions H. Therollers 2I which are in the frame I are journaled on spindles 22 in theform of countersunk screws inthe frame members 3. Angular brackets 23(see Fig. 5) are mounted at longitudinally spaced points on the sideportions of the frame I. Vertical. spindles 24 are mounted on'thebrackets 23. Guiderollers 25 are journaled on the spindles 24.

Upstanding stops 26 are removably and adjustably mounted on the endportions of the frame I. Toward this end, the side members of the frameI have formed therein longitudinally spaced openings 21. Depending pins28 on the stops 26 are engageable selectively in the openings 21. Eyes29 are provided on the extensions I! for receiving the pins 28 formounting the stops 26 on said extensions if desired.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, therack is placed in the tonneau of the vehicle 2 and secured through themedium of the bolts H. To

comprising an elongated frame including side and end members, said sidemembers having longitudinal grooves in the outer sides of their endportions, substantially U-shaped extensions on the ends of the framehaving their leg portions slidably engaged in the grooves, said legportions of the extensions having spaced notches in the upper edgesthereof, substantially U-shaped latches pivotally mounted for verticalswinging movement on the end portions of the frame and engageable in thenotches for releasably securing the extensions against sliding movement,coil mount a casket, as at 30, on the device, the door tion toaccommodate different lengths of caskets.v As hereinbefore stated, thestops 26 may be readily mounted on the extensions l1.

It is believed that the many advantages of a casket rack constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to beunderstood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed. v

What is, claimed is: 1. A casket rackof the character described springsconnected to the latches for yieldingly securing said latches in thenotches, rollers journaled transversely in the frame and in theextensions, and supporting legs mounted beneath the frame,

2. In combination with a passenger automobile of the closed body typehaving a floor, front and rear seats and a rear side door openingbetween the seats, an elongated casket rack mounted on the floor of, theautomobile transversely of the body between the seats and removableendwise directly through said side door opening, said rack including aroller carrying frame having a pair of folding legs at each end hingedto swing longitudinally of the frame to unfolded position, bracesrigidly connecting the lower ends of each pair of legs, further braceshinged to the intermediate portion of the frame and having their lowerends disposed to rest on the first-named braces when the legs areunfolded, plates. secured to the floor of the automobile, and boltspassing through the f braces and threaded into said plates to secure thelegs 'in unfolded position and detachably fasten the rack to the floor.

MARK E. MILLER.

